Pole Minder

ABSTRACT

The Pole Minder is a multi-purpose fishing pole holder for use on a boat or dock with a specially designed twist over other rod holders.
         1. When used on a boat, the Pole Minder can
           a. Hold a fishing rod upright for travel   b. Hold a fishing rod angled upward over the side of the boat for trolling   c. Hold a fishing rod angled upward for the perfect strike indication angle   
           2. When used on a dock, or mounted to a stake by your favorite river or lake, the Pole Minder can
           a. Hold your fishing pole upright while you rig your bait or tie on your next rig   b. Hold your fishing pole at the perfect strike indication angle   
           3. When used at the beach, the Pole Minder can act as a surf fishing pole holder, when mounted to a long stake or tube       

     This multi-purpose need, the unique design the Pole Minder encompasses, was encountered by its creators on many of their fishing trips. Unable to find an adequate solution on the market, the Pole Minder was born.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a non-provisional application for a utility patent claiming the benefit of an earlier filed Provisional Patent No. 62/114,551 filed on Apr. 6, 2015.

BACKGROUND

The Pole Minder was developed by Doug and Shane in an attempt to save money and time after being unable to find a reasonably priced, easy to use, boat mounted, multi-purpose, tubular fishing pole holder. They developed the pole minder to hold fishing poles upright, for highway and water travel keeping many poles ready for easy access, and in a trolling position, for trolling with multiple fishing poles at the same time while being able to set the hook quickly without removing the pole from the holder so another or multiple hook(s) can be set before reeling in the first one.

SUMMARY

The Pole Minder is a reasonably priced, easy to use, boat or dock mounted, multi-purpose, tubular fishing pole holder.

The advantages of the Pole Minder are:

-   -   1. Reasonably Priced, the Pole Minder has a retail price point         equal to the single purpose tubular pole holders on the market,         and a much lower price than the multi-purpose pole holders on         the market.     -   2. Ease of Use, the Pole Minder is used by simply sliding your         pole into the holder, either upright for travel, or at an angle         for trolling or strike indication. The other multi-purpose pole         holders on the market use screws, latches, and slides to         accomplish what the Pole Minder with a stationary design.     -   3. Multiple Mounting Potential, the Pole Minder can be mounted         to a boat, a dock, a clamp, a stake, or any 1.5″ ID schedule 40         pipe fitting. This allows many different locations to use the         Pole Minder and also allows for future expansion on the line of         mounts available.     -   4. Multiple Purposes, the Pole Minder was designed to hold         fishing poles in two positions, straight up and down, or at         approximately a 45° angle to the horizon. This allows for a         multitude of purposes such as;         -   a. Upright             -   i. Travel on road or water             -   ii. Surf fishing when mounted on a long tube shoved into                 the sand             -   iii. Holding your poles for easy access to multiple                 pre-mounted lures         -   b. 45° angle             -   i. Trolling your lures while moving the boat             -   ii. Bank fishing when mounted to a stake shoved in the                 dirt             -   iii. Dock fishing holding your pole at the perfect                 strike indication angle             -   iv. Holding your poles while fishing stationary in a                 boat

DESCRIPTIONS OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1) The technical drawing of the Pole Minder with dimensions and multiple views

FIG. 2) A 3 dimensional image of the Pole Minder in use with a fishing pole in the strike indication or trolling position

FIG. 3) A 3 dimensional image portraying a close-up of FIG. 2 where the fishing pole is sitting in the Pole Minder

FIG. 4) A 3 dimensional image showing the mounting hole creation process using a drill press and the jig used for precision

FIG. 5) A 4 dimensional image showing the process for creating the strike indicator or trolling position holding holes using a jointer and the jig used for precision

DESCRIPTION

The Pole Minder is created using one and a half inch, furniture grade, PVC, schedule 40 pipe, a drill press, and a modified jointer with jigs.

The Pole Minder is a multi-purpose fishing pole holder for use on a boat or dock with a specially designed twist over other rod holders. When used on a boat, the Pole Minder can hold a fishing rod upright for travel or angled upward over the side of the boat for trolling. On a dock, the Pole Minder can hold your fishing pole at the perfect angle for strike observation as well as holding it still while you tie on your next rig.

This multi-purpose need, the unique design the Pole Minder encompasses, was encountered by Doug and Shane on many of their fishing trips. Unable to find an adequate solution on the market, the Pole Minder was born.

CREATION

1. Start by cutting one and one half inch, inside diameter, schedule 40 PVC pipe into approximately one foot lengths

-   -   a. PVC pipe is easiest to work with although other plastics or         metal could be used to the same purpose with different methods         for creating the holes

2. Mount the jig onto the drill press with bolts or clamps to hold it securely

3. Slip the one quarter inch diameter bump pin into the middle support ring top hole towards the other support ring with holes in it

4. Slide in one of the one foot sections of PVC pipe into the first and second support rings

5. Drill a one quarter inch diameter hole through both sides of the PVC pipe

6. Rotate the pipe 45 degrees towards you and slide a one quarter inch diameter drift pin into the guide hole and the hole in the PVC pipe from step 5

7. Drill a one quarter inch diameter hole through both sides of the PVC pipe

-   -   a. Repeat steps 6 and 7 two more times

8. Remove the bump pin from step 3 and slide the pipe in to the back stop pin

9. Slide the drift pin into a hole on both the back support ring and the PVC pipe

10. Drill a one quarter inch diameter hole through both sides of the PVC pipe

-   -   a. Repeat steps 6 and 7 three times to complete the mounting         holes

11. Remove the pipe from the drill press jig and secure it into the jointer jig with two one quarter inch diameter bolts

12. Set the jig guide pins to the U-CUT positions

13. Start the jointer and slide the jig from the start position to the end position to cut the U shaped hole at the top of the PVC pipe

14. Shut off the jointer and wait for it to stop spinning

15. Move the guide pins to the O-CUT positions

16. Remove the bolts securing the pipe to the jig

17. Rotate the pipe 180 degrees and secure it with bolts

18. Start the jointer and place the back of the jig against the back guide pin

19. Lower the PVC pipe onto the jointer blade slowly

20. Once the jig is seated flat, slide the jig from the start position to the end position to finish the cut for the oval shaped hole in the back of the pipe

21. Shut off the jointer and wait for it to stop spinning

22. Remove the securing bolts and the pipe from the jig

23. Sand any sharp edges to complete the Pole Minder

MOUNTING/USE

1. Align the Pole Minder vertically on the side of your boat or dock with the U shaped opening and the oblong opening aligned the direction you want your fishing pole to point

2. Mount the Pole Minder through the predrilled mounting holes with one quarter inch diameter screws or bolts an appropriate length, at least three inches

3. Use the Pole Minder by setting your fishing pole vertically into the Pole Minder down the length of the pipe to store your pole for travel on a boat or for a higher standing line on a dock

4. To use your Pole Minder for trolling or strike indication fishing, slip the butt of your fishing pole into the U shaped opening of the Pole Minder and out the oblong opening in the opposite side of the Pole Minder resting the fishing pole on in the niche of the U shaped opening

-   -   a. When your fishing pole is used this way, the hook can be set         without extracting your fishing pole from the Pole Minder     -   b. Due to its unique design, the harder the fish pull, the         tighter the Pole Minder holds on 

1. Although the Pole Minder has been described in specific detail using specific materials and creation processes, it will be understood that many variations of materials used and the creation processes for those materials will differ significantly, the design and purpose of the Pole Minder will remain within the specified functionality. The Pole Minder is a multi-position tubular fishing pole holder with multiple mounting solutions making it the most versatile tubular fishing pole holder. It accomplishes this task with its multiple openings allowing the fishing pole to be held both upright and at an angle without moving parts. 